What to major in for Optometry?

Question

Ok guys........I'm planning on going to school for Pre-Optometry so I'm going to major in Biology. Fact is...I basically suck at Biology or science in general. My friend told me that the medical schools don't care what I major in as long as I score really good on my medical test. I'm more of a History person, for some reason I just understand it more so should I just go with History (I will have 6 classes already over with since I took dual credit) and if I take Biology I will just have like 2. I dunno....I'm so undecided at the moment!

Answer 1

Well I actually graduated with a history degree and ended up working in the engineering field preparing legal docs.  Then I went back and decided to go into medicine and do all those pre-reqs.

If you have a history degree be prepared to teach or do something other than teach history.  Med school is no joke though.

There is a reason why OBG/YN rotations are considered h**l on earth and the same goes for surgery.  You ened a 3.5 gpa for starts, 1yr of calc, chem, bio, Ochem, plus stats and a yr of physics.

And dont tell people you are pre-optometry either, most people despise them.  This guy told me how he was pre-med (woopy doo) and then failed out of calculus.  Science classes are no joke.

So you need a 3.5 gpa, pre-reqs, good LOR's and medical (shadowing work exp) experience, an dvolunteer service plus MCAT scores of 40 or above for MD programs.

Go for D.O. programs if you have a lower gpa and MCAT scores, usually around a 3.4 and a 30 MCAT score maybe.

Also if you dont get in, most people go to an American Medical Association approved Post-Bach program and retate the MCAT.  This is good for experience and helps you do better on your MCAT.  Apply to at least 10 schools every time (rule of ten).

Use the studentdocnetwork (look it up on google) and use it as a support group.

Med school is two years of classroom work where you might get laid alot for telling people you will be a doctor and be looked up to.  You will grow a huge ego.  Then 3rd and 4th year comes and 80-90 hr work weeks of work in some rotations will make you cry and want to quit.  Some bodily fluids will be splashed on you and you will be stressed out.  You will also have to compete with others.

Then residency comes where you will spend 3-7 yrs working 50-60 hr work weeks (depending on the residency of course) and then after that you can make more money.  There is a lot of stress, liability and responsibility.  Do not take this decision lightly.  And you get to work Saturdays, Yay!

You could go for Pharmacist but if you suck at chem.  this may not be for you.  You could look into a Masters of Public health as well.

I am a firm believer that if you try hard enough and want to succeed you will succeed.  This is America and social mobility is possible.  You probably don't suck at chem.  You probably don't study enough.  Once you start working and realize you really need to make more money for a decent lifestyle, chem won't seem so hard.

Well good luck!

Answer 2

OK I definitely understand wat you're saying.....And yes your friend is right You really don't have to have a certain major to excel in Med School or Optometry alike....BUT the thing I must say is and you probably already know this is the fact that the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) is COMPLETE CHEMISTRY, BIOLOGY, PHYSICS, PRE-CALCULUS, and the like.....I understand you don't like the natural sciences and even though all of medical school is the reiteration and reinforcement of the natural sciences......

U CAN DEF BE a History major but make sure you score AMAZINGLY on the MCAT even though History does distinguish you amongst the plethora of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics major ALSO applying to Med School, admissions to Med Schools all have their doubts as to other majors on the opposite side of the spectrum (History, Engineering, Computer Science and the like).....SO in picking a major NOWHERE near related to the natural sciences is a challenge because you have to work that much harde to prove the Med School that even a History major can do some chemistry and biology....

I would be a Biology minor if anything BC with a Biology minor you can defintely look forward to taking at least Microbiology, Botany, and Introductory courses in Cell and Molecular Biology which all have foundations in Chemistry SO u can learn a good amount Chemistry as well while you do your Biology minor courses....JUST AN IDEA

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY...ASK UR ADVISOR

I KNOW IT WAS ALOT BUT HOPE IT HELPS